Viking Buri

Sailing the Rhône on Viking Buri

Viking Buri sails the Rhône — the river that links the sun-bleached squares of Avignon to the gastronomic city of Lyon and, on her longer itineraries, reaches north all the way to Paris or Amsterdam. She was built in 2014, carries 190 guests and 53 crew across 95 cabins, and is sized precisely for the Rhône: narrow enough for the river’s quieter reaches, long enough at 135 metres to feel genuinely spacious on board. Her godmother is the French chanteuse Mireille Mathieu, an appropriate patron for a ship that spends its life among French cathedral towns and wine country.

Viking River Cruises designed her around the idea that the river itself is the destination — so the public spaces open onto the water, the Sun Deck runs the full length of the ship, and even the Herb Garden on board uses the same regional produce that the kitchen turns into the day’s dishes.

On board Viking Buri

The ship’s spaces are modest in number but well chosen. The Aquavit Terrace® is the al fresco dining spot — a glassed-in terrace where breakfast and lunch are served with the riverbank sliding past, included in every fare. Inside, the Lounge runs floor-to-ceiling windows along one side, with a bar and comfortable seating where guests compare the morning’s market visit over a drink in the afternoon (beverages at the bar carry a charge unless a package is included). The Library offers a curated collection of books in a quieter corner of the ship — a natural place to retreat after a port day.

Up top, the Sun Deck gives 360-degree views and a Walking Track for a circuit or two before breakfast. Access is restricted during canal passages and under low bridges, which is simply the nature of river sailing. Alongside it sits the Herb Garden — a small working garden whose produce feeds directly into the galley and whose existence is as much a philosophy as a feature: Viking’s Rhône ships are built to sit lightly on the river.

The Viking River Fare

Viking Buri sails on a single structural fare: the Viking River Fare. It includes a complimentary shore excursion at every port of call, full onboard dining with regional specialities, beer, wine and soft drinks with lunch and dinner, plus round-the-clock coffee, tea and bottled water. Wi-Fi is covered, as are UNESCO site visits. What it does not bundle is the flight from Australia — which is exactly why Cruise1st packages the cruise alongside flights, pre- and post-cruise hotels and transfers as a single booking, so nothing is left to arrange separately.

Cabins on Viking Buri

Across 95 cabins there are eight grades spread over three families. Outside staterooms — two grades — feature a half-height picture window that opens directly onto the river, giving light and fresh air without competing for space on the shared decks. Two balcony grades step up to a French balcony with opening glass doors for direct river access at a compact footprint. The four suite grades vary in what they include, with options ranging from a French balcony to a full private veranda — your own outdoor space at the river’s edge. Full grade details, dimensions and deck plans live on Viking Buri’s cabins and deck plans page.

Where Viking Buri sails

All of Viking Buri’s current sailings depart from the Rhône — the river she was built for — with embarkations from Avignon or Lyon. The route with the most departures is a 14-night one-way journey leaving Avignon in March, calling at Lyon, Arles, Viviers, Vienne and Tournon/Tain L’Hermitage along the river’s length before continuing north — one sailing ends in Amsterdam and one concludes in Paris, via Rouen and Basel. These are the longest programmes currently on sale, running in March 2027 and March 2028.

Two further sailings run as individual departures not covered in the grouped routes above. Across all four sailings, Avignon is the most common embarkation point, with Lyon used for one departure. The end points span Amsterdam, Paris, Lyon and Avignon — so some itineraries are river crossings in the fullest sense, following the water all the way to the sea.

Because every departure is from France, Cruise1st treats this cruise as the centrepiece of a longer trip and puts the flights from Australia, the hotel stays either side and all transfers on one booking alongside it. For port and sailing information, the Lyon, France and Amsterdam pages each list their own sailings, and Le Havre (Paris) covers the Seine leg that the longer itineraries use on their way to Paris.

The Viking River Cruises fleet

Viking Buri is one of thirty Viking River Cruises ships currently on sale through Cruise1st. The fleet is grouped by river:

The ships that sail the Rhine River, Europe
Viking Gefjon, Viking Rota, Viking Gersemi, Viking Hervor, Viking Annar, Viking Honir, Viking Dagur, Viking Haki, Viking Sigrun, Viking Sigyn, Viking Herja, Viking Egdir, Viking Hild, Viking Hlin

The ships that sail the Danube River, Europe
Viking Eldir, Viking Vali, Viking Lif, Viking Vidar, Viking Aegir, Viking Gullveig, Viking Baldur, Viking Embla

The ships that sail the Transatlantic
Viking Vela, Viking Astrea, Viking Lyra

The ships that sail the Western Mediterranean
Viking Libra

The ships that sail the Moselle River, Europe
Viking Idi, Viking Alsvin

The ships that sail the United States
Viking Mississippi

The ships that sail the Maas
Viking Mimir

The full Viking River Cruises page lists the fleet alongside what sailing with the line is like.

Booking Viking Buri with Cruise1st

Every Viking Buri sailing currently on sale departs from France — which means flights, pre-cruise hotels and transfers are part of the picture. Cruise1st packages all of that onto one booking alongside the cruise itself, so the whole holiday is arranged in one place. Our Cruise1st Packages bring together the cruise fare, the return flights from Australia, accommodation either side and airport-to-port transfers as a single holiday. Australian cruise experts are available seven days a week to help you match the fare, the cabin grade and the itinerary to what you are looking for — and the Best Price Guarantee means that if you find the same cruise cheaper elsewhere, we will match it.

Questions about sailing the Rhône on Viking Buri

What does the Viking River Fare actually include?

The Viking River Fare includes a shore excursion at every port, all onboard meals with regional dishes, beer, wine and soft drinks at lunch and dinner, plus unlimited coffees, teas and bottled water throughout the day. Wi-Fi is included across the ship, as are visits to UNESCO-listed sites along the route. Drinks ordered at the bar outside meal service carry a charge unless you have added a beverage package.

How long are the itineraries on Viking Buri?

The sailings currently on sale run to 14 nights. The ship also has shorter departures that fall outside the grouped routes — the full range on sale spans 7 to 14 nights, so there is variety in the programme even though the river is the same.

Where does Viking Buri start and finish her sailings?

Current departures embark most commonly from Avignon, with one leaving from Lyon. End points vary by itinerary: some sailings conclude in Lyon or Avignon, while the longer programmes run all the way to Amsterdam or Paris. These are one-way journeys, so the start and finish cities are different — which is worth factoring in when planning flights and hotels either side.

Can I book the flights and hotels with the cruise?

Yes — because every Viking Buri sailing departs from France, Cruise1st puts the return flights from Australia, the hotel nights before and after the cruise, and the transfers all on the same booking as the cruise. You do not need to arrange any part of it separately. Speak to our Australian cruise specialists seven days a week to put together the full trip.

Is there Wi-Fi on board Viking Buri?

Wi-Fi is included in the Viking River Fare at no extra charge, covering the cabins and the ship’s public spaces throughout the voyage.